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PANJIM: Unbeaten Evan Antonio Telles and unbeaten Aaradhya Dessai became the State champions in the Open and Girls categories respectively in the All Goa U-7 Open and Girls State Chess Championship/Selection 2025 at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, recently.
In the Open Category, Evan outsmarted Aarush Hirendra Naik Parulekar in the final round to remain unbeaten with 6 points to become champion.
Nirbhay Gaude outplayed Vivaan Kadam on the second board to finish second with five points. Schaffer Antunes Viegas managed to outwit Dwennon Jake Viegas to finish third with five points.
Vivaan Kadam finished fourth with four points.
Shrihan Chougale defeated Nilay Gautum Gaude to finish fifth with four points. Aarush Hirendra Naik Parulekar finished sixth with four points.
In the best Salcete Taluka players in the Open Category, first place was won by Dwennon Jake Viegas and the second was won by Daksh Kathrani.
In the girls category, Aaradhya Dessai got the better of Kavyshree Dattatrey Bhosle in the final round to remain unbeaten with five points to become the champion.
Jigyasa Gawas defeated Brahami Ramesh Mangasuli in the final round to finish second with four points. Yajwari Tukaram Shetye beat Zara Nicole Abranches Freitas in the last round to finish third with 3.5 points.
Brahami Ramesh Mangasuli finished fourth with three points. Adhvi Amol Terse defeated Paaviya Pavankumar Naik to finish fifth with three points. Kavyshree Dattatrey Bhosle finished sixth with three points.
In the best Salcete taluka players in the girls category, first place was won by Eliaza Phacelia Barreto and the second place was won by Zara Nicole Abranches Freitas.
The chief guest for the prize distribution function was Tukaram Shetye, joint Secretary, Goa Chess Association (GCA). The other dignitaries on the dais were GCA Secretary Ashesh Keni, GCA Vice-President Damodar Zambulikar and other dignitaries.
The top four players from the Open Category and the top two players in the girls category are selected to represent the State in the upcoming U-7 Nationals from June 1 to 5, in Odisha.